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Wildlife and Other Sightings: Jerusalem Cricket

September 15, 2012 Posted by: BW - Mather District Volunteer Interpretive Ranger

 Jerusalem Cricket
Stenopelmatus fucus
    
Jerusalem Cricket

August 2012
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
This unusual insect is the Jerusalem cricket. Taken a few weeks ago at the Hodgdon Meadow campground, this picture shows some of the cricket's distinctive characteristics; a large head and a rounded striped body. These wingless insects spend most of the time underground where they use their large jaws to eat roots and other plant material. Crickets like this can be found throughout the western United States and into Mexico.   

wildlife




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